Combination lock for automobiles



v y o.- HERMANN COMBINATION Locx Fok AUmoMoBILns Filed July 2o. 1921 2 suina-sneu.' 1

' INVENTQR, o Hermann) June 10 1924.

o. HERMANN COMBINATION Locx Fon AUTOMOBILES Filed July 2o. 1921 2 sheets-shew. 2

INVENTOR, lYr/zazzrz,

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A TTORNEY.

Patented .lune 10, 1924.

UNIT saTEs 1,496,846 PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO HERMANN, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO RELIABL COM- BINATION LOCK CORPORATION, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A COR- PORATION OF THE DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

COMBINATION LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed July 20,1921. Serial No. 486,014.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, OTTO HERMANN, a citizen of theUnited States of America, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Locks for' Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in'devices for locking the steering wheel of an automobile or motor vehicle so that it ycannotbe operated or lturned by an un-y ating the combination.

Referring to the dra-wings: Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the device attached to the steering postof the machine and illustrating the upper graduated locking ring and the upper ends of the locking bolt in full lines, and in dotted line the posts for securing the device to the clamp.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of Fig. 1

showing the locking bolt engaging one of the spokes of the steering wheel.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the spoke in section and the locking bolt on opposite sides of the same, and the locking rings in operative position. i

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4of Fig. 1 showing the postson the clamp for retaining the locking device on the clamp7 also the combination or locking rings in section and in engagement with the posts.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the post clamping device in open position and before the clamp is applied.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational View of Fig. 5 after the clamp isV closed and before the lock is placed thereon.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the lower plate of the lock which fits vonto the arm of the clamp.

Fig. 8 isa bottom plan view of the lower plate shown in Fig. 7 and the openings `for receiving the posts and locking'bolt.

Fig. 9is a detail sectional view of the up-l per plate of the lock. n

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a plan View of one of the combination rings. Y

Fig. 12 is a vertical Ysectional line 12--12 of Fig. 11. i Fig. 13 is'a detail view of locking bolt.

view o n j the the U-shaped I YReferring to the drawings in detail: 1 des- Y ignates the usual steering post, and 2, 3,14

and 5,`the spokes of the steering wheel. At-V tached to the steering post is the clamp composed ofthe members 6 and 7, which areV pivoted together at 8. The memberA 6 is formed with an extension orjarm portion 9,

having a recessed portion 10 which receives the end 11 ofthe hingedv part 7. Attached to and secured in the parts 9 and 11'are the grooved posts 12and 13, by meansrof the pins 14 and 15. The grooves are indicated at 16 and 17. The part 7 is securedto the part 9 by means of the screw 1S entering the opening 18"..

Referring to the construction of the lock proper: 19 designates the lower plate of the lock which is formedwith the openings y2O and 21, and also with the grooved channel 22 on the bottom thereof and the opening 23 in the center. 24 is a circular 'hubor'rib on the upper surface of the same. This bottom plate is placed on the arms 9 and 11- of the clamp when closed, by passing the posts 12 and 13 through the openings 20, 21. The channel 22 then engages the opposite sides of the arms 7 and 9as shown in the assembled yview in Figs. 3 and 4.u

The upper plate ofthe lock is indicated in Figs. 9 and 10, at 25. This plate is formed with an annular recess 26, the threaded opening 27, the'recesses 28 and 29 `in the under side of the same, and ,with thev openings 30 Y The upper and lower plates are and 31. Y shown assembled in Figs. 3 and 4, in section where the hubvor rib 24 enters the recess 26. Before the plates are assembled the screw 32 is inserted to secure the upper and lower Y plates rigidly together. The openings 2O receive the posts 12 and 13, as already stated, and the recesses 28 and 29 receive the upper ends of these posts. It should be stated that before the upper and lower plates 19 and 25 are assembled, the combination locking rings 33 and 34 are put in place, as well as the wheel locking bolt 35 which is formed with the grooves 38 and 39. lt is, of course, understood that before the posts 12 and 13, and the locking bolt 35 can be inserted that the recesses in the combination locking rings shall register with the grooves v16, 17, 38, and 39 to permit their insertion. One of the .combination rings is shown in Fig. 11 detached from the lock, and'illustrates theflocking ribs which consist of the short arcs 40, 41, 42, 43, and 44, and the semicircular recessed portions 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49, asshown in Fig. 11. It should be noticed that Ithe recesses 45 and 48 are oppositely located, or 18()O apart, that the recesses 45 and 49, and 48 and 49 are 90O apart, and the rer`cesses 45 and 46, 46 and 47, and 47 and 48 'are 60O apart.

the only ones that are used for the purpose The recesses 45- and 48 are of locking and unlocking the bolt 35, and

the posts 12 and 13, the others are merely blind Vordeceptive recesses. It is understood that the upper and lower combination rings 33 and 34 are exactly like the one shown in F ig. 11. The upper ring, as indicated, is

,graduated into 27 equal divisions and the lower riiigis shown graduated into a like number of spaces. ln practice, any number of .graduations may be made, and the rings yneed not necessarily have the saine number of graduations. Agraduations may be located at any desired lt is understood that the portion of the rings, and also that the upper and lower rings should have the numerals 'spaced differently, with relation to the recesses 45 and 48. Therefore the bolt 35 cannot be removed or yslid into locking position until the rings are turned so that the recesses 45 and 48-are opposite the grooves 38 and 39. In other words, the lockingrings must be so positioned that the locking arcs 40 to 44 are withdrawn vfrom the grooves V38 and 39. The bolt 35 is formed with two collars 50 and 51 for limiting the upward movement of the same when it is placed in locking position.

Referring nowv to the operation of the locking mechanism: 52 indicates an index line oiithe upper plate 25 (see Fig. ln the position shown the upper ring is registering with the line 52 substantially oppo- .site the-zero graduation of this ring, and the vbolt 35 to slide orbe witidrawn for unlockfing the steering wheel or for pushing the boltA upward for locking the steering wheel. The locking position is indicated in F ig. 3

Messes after tiie rings 33 and 34 have been turned in either direction away from the index 52, the arcs 40 to 44 have again entered the grooves 38 and 39, and the bolt 35 is again locked.

it is desired to remove the lock from the clan'iping arm 9, or in other words, turn the rings 33 and 35 so that the locking arcs 40 to 44 are withdrawn from the grooves 16 and 17 of the pests 12 and 13, the same index line 52 is used for reference, but different graduations of the rings 33 and 34 will be used and brought into registration witli-tlie index line 52. This isobvious, from theposition of the posts 12 and 13, shown in Fig. 2. rEhe whole lock can now be removed from the arm 9.

An important feature of my invention is the concealing` of the screw 18 whenthe parts are assembled or located onthe-arm 9, and also the holding of thev clamp together by means of the groove 22 which engages the sides of the arm 9 and the -movable part 7, thereby rendering the lock incapable of being moved from the steering post, unless one is familiar with the combination of the rings 33 and 34.

53 indicates a pin inthe arm 9 which enters a small opening in the steering post, thereby preventing the clamp from being turned or moved out of position on the steering` post. 54 designates a pin on one of the arms of the bolt 35 to prevent its dropping yout of place when not in use.

lt will be seen lfrom this description' that l have provided a lock foi` retaining the steering wheel of a motor vehicle in inopen ative position, and one which is capable of va "ions changes in the graduation of the locking rings, whereby no two locks need be made to operate by the same-combination, as is readily understood.

`What 1 claim is:

1. A. locking device for the steering wheel of a motor vehicle com )risino in lcombina- `wheel of a motor vehicle, including a slidable bolt, substantially U-shaped, for engaging the opposite sides of a spolrelof the wheel, said bolt having a plurality of grooves, graduated rings formed with recesses and arc-shaped ribs between the recesses for engaging the grooves of the bolt, whereby when the rings' are moved into different positioiis the bolt maybe either locked or unlocked, as described.

3. win a looking device for thepurpose described, tlie combination, ofA a clamping lil) member adapted to be attached to the steerlng post, means for securing the same thereto, including a swinging arm, means for retaining the arm inl closed position, said' means including a plate formed With openings, and a groove to engage the sides et the arm, posts formed with grooves and secured in the arms and passing through the openings in the plate, means for locking the plate to the posts, including a plurality of graduated rings formed with arc shaped ribs for engaging the grooves in the post, as described.

4. In a locking device, the combination With a clamping member or supporting arm adapted to be attached to the steering post of a motor vehicle, of upper and lower plates,means for securing the same together, posts secured to the supporting arm and extending through the lower plate., a slidable bolt passing through the plates, and means engaging the post and bolt for locking the same to the plates for the purpose described.

5. A locking device for the steering Wheel of a motor vehicle, comprising a single arm adapted to be positioned on and attached to the steering post, means for retaining the arm on said post, including a plate to engage the arm, means having grooves carried by the plate for engaging a spoke of the Wheel, means for locking the spoke engaging means, said means including a plurality ot graduated rings Jformed With arc-shaped ribs Which may be rotated on the plate 'for moving the ribs into the grooves.

6. In a device for locking the steering Wheel of a motor vehicle, the combination, of a supporting arm, a pair of plates secured tosaid arm, a U-shaped slidable bolt mounted in the platesfor engaging the opposite sides of a spoke of the Wheel and having grooves in the outer sides of the bolt, and means including a plurality of rotatable graduated rings having ribs on their inner surfaces vfor engaging the grooves of the bolt for retaining it in locking engagement With the spoke.

7. In a device for locking the steering Wheel of a motor vehicle, the combination, of a supporting arm, a pair ot' plates secured to said arm, a U-shaped slidable bolt mounted in the plates :tor engaging the opposite sides of a spoke of the Wheel, and means including a plurality of rotatable graduated rings for engaging the bolt for retaining it in locking engagement With the. spoke, said bolt having grooves therein and said rings having ribs for engaging the grooves When the bolt is locked, and recesses in the rings designed to register with the grooves in the bolt to permit the bolt to be moved, as described.

8. In a locking device for the steering Wheel of a motor vehicle, an arm, meansfor attaching the arm to the steering post, in-

cluding a movable part, plates on the arm, means for Vsecuring the same together, said securing means being concealed and said movable part being retained in clamping place on the post When the plates are secured in place on the arm, means for locking the plates to the arm including posts attached to the arm and graduated rotatable rings on the plates having devices tor engaging the posts.

9. In a locking' device for the steering Wheel of a motor vehicle, an arm, means for attaching the arm to the steering post in a laterally extending position, including a movable clamping part, upper and lower, plates on the arm, means for securing the same together, said securing means being concealed by the arm and said movable part is retained in place by the plates When the plates are placed on the arm, means for attaching the plates to the arml including posts on the arm passing through one of the plates and into recesses in the upper plate and graduated rotatable rings on the plates having devices for engaging theposts, a slid able bolt for engaging a spoke of the Wheel and said rings also having locking engagement with the bolt for retaining the bolt in engagement with a spoke of the Wheel.

l0. In a lock for the purpose described,

the combination With a` supporting arm, of upper and lower plates, a device for securing the plates together and passing through the lower plate and into the` upper one, said securing` device being concealed when the plates are assembled and placed on the arm, openings in the plates to receive a slidable bolt, a plurality of rotatable rings engaging the bolt for locking the bolt against movement, and for securing the plates to. i

the arm. y y

ll. A device 4tor locking the steering Wheel ot' a moto-r vehicle to prevent its op# eration and comprising a member designed 'for attachment to the steering post, a pair of pins attached to the member, plates on the member, means for attaching the plates together, revolvable graduatedv rings between the plates which engage the pins for deta-chably connecting the plates to; the

member, a slidable U-shaped bolt tor en- Y gaging the opposite sides of a spoke of the steering Wheel, said rings engaging the bolt to lock the same in contact With thespoke at the same time that it connects the plates to the member.

l2. A locking Vdevice for the steering Wheel of a motor vehicle comprising in com`r bination, of a member designed for attach ment to the steering post, a slidable U- shaped bolt tor engaging the opposite sides of a spoke of the Wheel and formed with kerts on the limbs of: the bolt, rotatable rings formed with spaced ribs on their inner edges tor entering the keris, means for connecting the rings to the member, and the spaces between the ribs permitting the bolt to "be moved aWay rom'the spokes.

13. In combination asupportingmember,

a stud on said member, a bolt extending through said member adjacent the stud, a plurality or rings supported upon the meniber and surrounding the stud and bolt, and havin@ ortions adapted in certain ")osr n D AL. n l tions to enejaffe and in other )osi-tions to Adisengage the stud and bolt, substantially as described.

14. In combination with device as set forth in claim 13, a member connected with the supporting member and retaining the rings in place, the bolt passing through said `retaining member.

15. In combination, a supporting member, Vva pair of studs thereon, a bolt having aplu- *"rality of legs extending through said memy'ber ad'acent the studs a aluralitv ot rines ber, a pair of notched stnds thereon, :t

U shaped bolt having its legs extended through said member adjacent the notched lst'uds, a plurality ol permutation rings supported upon the member and surrounding the studs and bolt, said permutation rings having interior portions adapted in certain positions to engage and in other positions to disengage the notches of' the stuos and bolt., substantially as described.

18. In` combination with devices as set forth in claim 17, a top member connected With the base member and retaining the Ypermutation rings in place, said top member being perforated for the passage of ythe legs of the bolt.

19. In combination, asupporting member i ii/reame having a 'recess adjacent one end and a recessed arm hinged to therecessed end of said member, and having astu'dfrising -from its upper end; and saidsupportingemember having a similar stud ri-sin'gfi'rom itsk 419, the studs andbolt being notched, and a plurality of rings having :internal -webs or flanges adapted to engagethe notches oi" the studs and bolt, substantially as described.

22. In combination a supportingmember having a recess adjacent Vvone end, an arm hinged. to the recessed end ofthesupporting member adapted 'to close the recess, said arm having a stud 'rising lfrom its upper end, and said supporting vmember having a similar stud 'rising/from 'its upper side, said studs -being; notched.; a U

'shaped locking bolt havingitsflegsextended through openingsiin` said supporting member beside the studs, `theiyl'egs "of the bolt being notched; a plurality of rings supported upon the memberand.surrounding the said studs Vandthe legs Aofthe sliding bolt, and holding thehin'gedarm. in closed position, saidrings having internal Webs or flanges adapted'in certain'positions oiE the rings to engage and in others to disengage the notches of thelstuds and bolt, substantially as described. y

23. In combination with devices'as" set i'orth in claim 22, a top'memb'er connected with the base member and"*retainingv the permutation rings inplace, the legs of the bolt passing through-'said top member.

OTTOV HERMANN. 

